Improvement in linings for artificial limbs



UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE..

JAMES W. WEsrON, OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN LININGS FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 53,206, dated March 13, 1866; antedated March 5, 1866.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES W. WESTON, of the city and State ot New York, have invented, made, and applied to use a certain new and useful Improvement in Linings for Artificial Limbs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specitcation, wherein- Figure l is a section ofI said lining. Fig. 2 is a section of the lining as formed ot cork on two thicknesses ot" veneer. Figui?) is a section of the cork lining` upon a cloth backing; and Fig. ais a plan, showing the ring shape ot' said lining.

Artiticial limbs have heretofore been padded with leather, muslin, india-rubber, and similar substances. These all, however, are either harsh to the skin of the stump, or else liable to become saturated with perspiration and offensive.

The nature Ot' my said invention consists in a lining for articial limbs for receiving the stump, formed ot' thin sheets of cork in a circular or conical form corresponding to the shape of the stump, said lining sitting Within the art-iciatlinib socket, and the cork being next the skin presents a smooth, sott surface, that is not materially atl'ected with the perspiration, because the pores in the cork allow said perspiration to escape, and said cork ai'ords a pleasant, smooth surface to the tender stump.

In the drawings, a represents the interior portion of the lining, formed of thin plates or sheets of cork that are sufficiently thin to be rolled up with facility into a conical or circular form corresponding with the shape of the stump. The cork may be cemented upon a musliu or cloth back, b, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) or it may be cemented on one or two thicknesses of veneer, as seen .in Figs. l and 2. Where two thicknesses of veneer are used the grains of these veneers should cross or run at au augle to each other, the more securely to prevent the lining splitting by the strain to which it may be subjected, and to prevent said lining changing its form under strain or atmospheric influences. This lining` may be secured into the artificial limb in any desired manner. I prefer that it should not be made as a rigid cylinder or cone, but be lapped on one side, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. l, so that it can be compressed to the form of the stump and be easy to the wearer.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A lining for artificial limbs at the part Where the stump is received, formed of thin sheetcork, substantially as and for the purposes Speeied.

In witnessgyhereof I have hereunto set my signature this 4th day of April, 1865.

JAMES W. WESTON. Witnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, JAMES E. SEREELL, J r. 

